Southwest Airlines says it is ending cabin service on flights early, requiring passengers to perform usual pre-landing procedures, such as making sure their seat belts are fastened and returning their seats to the upright position earlier than before.
Starting December 4, a company spokesperson said, flight attendants will begin preparing the cabin for landing at an altitude of 18,000 feet (5,486 meters) instead of 10,000 feet (3,048 meters). The change in procedure is intended to “reduce the risk of injuries from in-flight turbulence” for crew members and passengers, the company said.
Although turbulence-related deaths are quite rare, injuries piled up over the years. More than a third of all aviation incidents in the United States between 2009 and 2018 were related to turbulence, and most of those resulted in one or more serious injuries, but no damage to the aircraft. This is reported by the National Transport Safety Council.
In May, a 73-year-old man died on board a Singapore Airlines flight when the plane encountered heavy turbulence over the Indian Ocean.
The airline had also previously announced other changes.
Starting next year, Southwest will throw away half a century tradition of “open sitting” — passengers who choose their own seat after boarding the aircraft.